As the United States entered a golden age of prosperity in the 1950s, Spira looked to expand his horizons. He founded an advertising agency on Madison Avenue in 1952 and quickly rose to prominence. While not officially recognized by the show’s creators, industry insiders are confident that the Mad Men character Don Draper is based on Spira’s exploits as an ad executive. While scholars dispute the exact details, several industry veterans recall a cocktail party where Spira challenged Coca-Cola President Robert Woodruff to a whiskey-drinking contest. When all was said and done, Woodruff was taken to the hospital, Spira had won and the Jack and Coke was born.